MHI and Nusantara Power to accelerate decarbonisation of Indonesia’s energy systems

Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and PT. PLN Nusantara Power, a sub-holding of Indonesia’s state-owned electricity provider PT. PLN (Persero), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to commence three technical studies related to co-firing of less carbon-intensive fuels at power plants owned and operated by Nusantara Power.

According to MHI, a pair of studies to be conducted at the Muara Karang Power Plant, located on Java approximately 10 kilometres from the capital city of Jakarta, will examine the potential for introducing hydrogen co-firing for an M701F Series turbine currently in operation, and ammonia co-firing in a gas-fired boiler. To note, MHI has supplied many of its principal equipment in the power station, including several gas turbines, boilers, and steam turbines.

A study at the Paiton Coal-Fired Power Plant, also located on Java and owned by Nusantara Power, will evaluate the technical aspects for the feasibility of biomass co-firing, MHI said.

The three studies will be conducted jointly by Nusantara Power and MHI with support from Mitsubishi Power, MHI’s power solutions brand.

MHI said the MoU builds on strong existing cooperation between MHI and PLN in Indonesia as MHI’s Mitsubishi Power has been supporting PLN and its organisations with solutions for power plants across the country since 1971.

In November 2022, MHI and PLN Group company PT. PLN Indonesia Power signed an agreement to commence three feasibility studies on co-firing less carbon-intensive fuels at power plants owned and operated by Indonesia Power.

In March 2022, MHI and PLN, together with Institut Teknologi Bandung, prepared a joint proposal on biomass co-firing adoption at Indonesia’s thermal power plants and presented their findings to the national government.

Through this MoU and other ongoing initiatives, MHI, with support from Mitsubishi Power, said it will work to help Indonesia achieve its 2060 Net Zero Emission target.